Latest news with #GovernanceandAdministrationCommittee
Scoop
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The Public Service Amendment Bill
Press Release: Governance and Administration Committee The Governance and Administration Committee is seeking public submissions on the Public Service Amendment Bill. The Bill includes provisions relating to: the purpose and role of the public service responsibilities of public service chief executives performance review and conduct oversight functions of the Public Service Commissioner long-term planning and continuity requirements for public service agencies Tell the Governance and Administration Committee what you think Make a submission on the bill by midnight on 31 August 2025. For more details about the bill:
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill
The Governance and Administration Committee is calling for submissions on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill. The bill would seek to reduce pressure on council rates by: refocusing the purpose of local government; and better measuring and publicising council performance; and prioritising core services in council spending; and strengthening council accountability and transparency; and providing regulatory relief to councils. The Bill proposes a range of amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 to meet its policy objectives. Tell the Governance and Administration Committee what you think Make a submission on the bill by midnight on 27 August 2025.
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The Online Casino Gambling Bill
The Governance and Administration Committee is calling for submissions on the Online Casino Gambling Bill. The bill would establish a licensing regime for online casino gambling to facilitate a safer and regulated online casino gambling market. It would prohibit the conduct and advertisement of unlicensed online casino gambling and provides protections for consumers, within the regulated online casino gambling market. Tell the Governance and Administration Committee what you think Make a submission on the bill by midnight on 17 August 2025. For more details about the bill:
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Plain Language Act Repeal Bill ‘Major Step Backward' For Disabled Community
Press Release – IHC New Zealand Ultimately it is these voices that IHC wants the government to listen to most closely as it considers the repeal of this Act, says Nicolina. We implore the government to vote down the Plain Language Act Repeal Bill, then strengthen the Plain … Repealing the Plain Language Act 2022 would mark a major step backwards for people with intellectual disability to easily access important information, says IHC. In its submission earlier this week to the Governance and Administration Committee, IHC says that people with intellectual disability benefit from plain language, as they are among those most likely to be assessed as having low literacy in reading and writing. The purpose of the Plain Language Act is to promote the use of plain language among public service agencies and Crown agents to improve the accessibility of public documents. In this Act, plain language means language that is appropriate to the intended audience; and clear, concise, and well organised. Dr Nicolina Newcombe, IHC's Inclusion Advisor, says the use of plain language helps people with intellectual disability to understand complex information. 'Plain language also saves time and money. Since the Act was introduced, many agencies have taken positive steps to improve the quality of government communication. To repeal the Act now risks the undoing of all the gains. Experience shows that in a fiscally constrained environment, anything not mandated is at risk of being de-prioritised. If necessary, the Act could be revised, to increase its practical impact.' Members of an IHC-facilitated Easy Read Advisory Group, made up of people with an intellectual disability, were consulted for their responses to the potential repeal of the Plain Language Act. These are their voices. 'Don't change it, it needs to be plain language.' Dianne Pelvin 'It makes me feel out of place not to use plain language, otherwise you will be thinking, 'what on Earth are you talking about'. It's common sense. Easy English is better, especially for people like us.' Virginia Hika 'They [government workers] do not use plain language [currently], they use big words, they do not understand what is wrong [with the way they talk and write] or what they are saying.' Waata Houia 'It's not really OK to stop that, how will people like us understand all the jargon? Very hard, hard words and sentences puts us all out.' Kaye McMurray 'Ultimately it is these voices that IHC wants the government to listen to most closely as it considers the repeal of this Act', says Nicolina. 'We implore the government to vote down the Plain Language Act Repeal Bill, then strengthen the Plain Language Act.' About IHC New Zealand IHC New Zealand advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community. IHC provides advocacy, volunteering, events, membership associations and fundraising. It is part of the IHC Group, which also includes IDEA Services, Choices NZ and Accessible Properties.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Plain Language Act Repeal Bill ‘Major Step Backward' For Disabled Community
Repealing the Plain Language Act 2022 would mark a major step backwards for people with intellectual disability to easily access important information, says IHC. In its submission earlier this week to the Governance and Administration Committee, IHC says that people with intellectual disability benefit from plain language, as they are among those most likely to be assessed as having low literacy in reading and writing. The purpose of the Plain Language Act is to promote the use of plain language among public service agencies and Crown agents to improve the accessibility of public documents. In this Act, plain language means language that is appropriate to the intended audience; and clear, concise, and well organised. Dr Nicolina Newcombe, IHC's Inclusion Advisor, says the use of plain language helps people with intellectual disability to understand complex information. 'Plain language also saves time and money. Since the Act was introduced, many agencies have taken positive steps to improve the quality of government communication. To repeal the Act now risks the undoing of all the gains. Experience shows that in a fiscally constrained environment, anything not mandated is at risk of being de-prioritised. If necessary, the Act could be revised, to increase its practical impact.' Members of an IHC-facilitated Easy Read Advisory Group, made up of people with an intellectual disability, were consulted for their responses to the potential repeal of the Plain Language Act. These are their voices. 'Don't change it, it needs to be plain language.' Dianne Pelvin 'It makes me feel out of place not to use plain language, otherwise you will be thinking, 'what on Earth are you talking about'. It's common sense. Easy English is better, especially for people like us.' Virginia Hika 'They [government workers] do not use plain language [currently], they use big words, they do not understand what is wrong [with the way they talk and write] or what they are saying.' Waata Houia 'It's not really OK to stop that, how will people like us understand all the jargon? Very hard, hard words and sentences puts us all out.' Kaye McMurray 'Ultimately it is these voices that IHC wants the government to listen to most closely as it considers the repeal of this Act', says Nicolina. 'We implore the government to vote down the Plain Language Act Repeal Bill, then strengthen the Plain Language Act.' About IHC New Zealand IHC New Zealand advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community. IHC provides advocacy, volunteering, events, membership associations and fundraising. It is part of the IHC Group, which also includes IDEA Services, Choices NZ and Accessible Properties.
